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What Fractional HR Directors do and when to hire one. The most common senior HR role in the UK fractional market.
A Fractional HR Director is an experienced senior HR leader who provides strategic people leadership on a part-time basis—typically 1-3 days per week. They take ownership of your HR function, building infrastructure, managing complex matters, and professionalising people operations, at 35-45% less cost than a full-time HR Director.
The Fractional HR Director is the most common senior HR role in the UK fractional market. In British business culture, "HR Director" is often used interchangeably with "CHRO" (Chief Human Resources Officer), though HR Directors typically focus more on operational excellence while CHROs emphasise board-level strategy.
According to CIPD research, the demand for flexible senior HR leadership has grown significantly as UK businesses seek expertise without full-time overhead. Fractional HR Directors fill this gap for companies with 30-150 employees.
12-18 years HR experience with 5+ years in senior HR roles. Typically CIPD Level 7 qualified. Has built and led HR functions at scale-up or mid-market companies.
£900-£1,100 per day in the UK market. Mid-point between People Partners (£600-£850) and CHROs (£1,100-£1,300).
Typically 1-3 days per week, depending on company size and complexity. Can scale up during intensive periods.
Companies with 30-150 employees needing senior HR leadership but not full-time capacity. Scale-ups building their first formal HR function.
Fractional HR Directors focus on strategic work and delegate operational tasks:
This is the sweet spot for Fractional HR Directors. Below 30, a People Partner often suffices. Above 150, you may need full-time or a CHRO. Within this range, you need senior expertise but not 5 days a week.
"I'm the CEO but I'm spending 20% of my time on HR issues. We've had some near-misses with employee problems. We need a professional to take this off my plate."
"We've grown to 40 people but have no formal HR. No proper contracts, no handbook, no processes. We need someone to build the foundations properly."
"We're facing potential tribunal claims, need to restructure the team, or have difficult performance issues. We need someone who's navigated these situations before."
"We're hiring 5-10 people per month. Onboarding is inconsistent, managers are overwhelmed, and we're losing people because of poor processes."
"We've raised funding and the board expects professional HR. We need to show proper people metrics, retention data, and have someone credible at leadership meetings."
| Factor | Fractional HR Director | Fractional CHRO |
|---|---|---|
| Day Rate | £900-£1,100 | £1,100-£1,300 |
| Company Size | 30-150 employees | 100-500 employees |
| Focus | Building HR infrastructure, hands-on leadership | Board-level strategy, culture transformation |
| Experience | 12-18 years | 18+ years |
| Board Interaction | Occasional updates | Regular board member |
Choose HR Director if: You need someone to build and run HR operations, manage day-to-day people leadership, and professionalise your function. Most scale-ups need this.
Choose CHRO if: You need board-level strategy, culture transformation, executive team coaching, or are preparing for major events (IPO, sale, significant restructure).
Savings: £30,000-£67,000 annually (22-39%)
Based on 2.5 days/week x 2 clients x 48 working weeks. CMO UK average day rate: £950.
BetaThis calculator provides rough estimates for illustration only. Actual rates and salaries vary based on location, experience, industry, and market conditions. Consult with a qualified accountant for accurate financial planning.
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